System and method for providing a portable and interactive storefront

ABSTRACT

In an example embodiment, a method for providing a portable and interactive storefront is provided. The method may comprise receiving information associated with a product to be placed in electronic commerce. Content is therefore generated based on the received information, in which the content may provide an interactive storefront. A link to the content is generated and then provided.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/290,853 filed May 29, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/962,213 filed Dec. 21, 2007 and is related toand hereby claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/947,200 filed Jun. 29, 2007, which applications areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to an electronic commercesystem and method. In an example embodiment, the disclosure relates to asystem and method for providing a portable and interactive storefront inelectronic commerce.

BACKGROUND

Electronic commerce can be the distribution, purchase, or selling ofproducts over the Internet and other computer networks. To place aproduct in electronic commerce, a user may setup or create a storefrontthat lists the product. In an example, a storefront may be placed on aWeb page. There are a variety of applications that can be used to createand setup a storefront on a Web page. Generally, a user may use suchapplications to create a storefront. After the storefront is generated,the application generates Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) codes thatmay be placed within a Web page to describe or create the storefront.However, such HTML codes cannot be easily transferred to other Webpages. Accordingly, if a user wants to copy his storefront to anotherWeb page, the user basically has to completely recreate the storefront.Further, if there are multiple copies of the storefront on various Webpages, a change to one storefront means that the user will also need tolaboriously change other storefronts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and notlimitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which likereferences indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example embodiment of a networked system;

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an example embodiment of modulesthat may be included in an apparatus;

FIG. 3a is a flow diagram of a general overview of a method, inaccordance with an example embodiment, for providing a link to contentassociated with an interactive storefront;

FIG. 3b is a flow diagram of a general overview of a method, inaccordance with another example embodiment, for providing a link tocontent associated with an interactive storefront and for tracking thelink;

FIG. 4a is a flow diagram of a general overview of a method, inaccordance with an example embodiment, for providing an interactivestorefront;

FIG. 4b is a block diagram of an example embodiment that may be used toprovide an interactive storefront;

FIG. 5a is a diagram of a graphical user interface (GUI), in accordancewith an example embodiment, for providing information associated withcontents retrieved from a search;

FIG. 5b is a diagram of a graphical user interface (GUI), in accordancewith another example embodiment, for providing information associatedwith contents retrieved from a search; and

FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic representation of an example embodiment of amachine in the example form of computer system within which a set ofinstructions, for causing the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein, may be executed,

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of an example embodiment of the present disclosure. Itwill be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the presentdisclosure may be practiced without these specific details.

Overview

Example embodiments for providing an interactive storefront areprovided. A link is used to retrieve content that provides aninteractive storefront. To place a product in electronic commerce (e.g.,selling a product), a user may provide information associated with theproduct (e.g., price and images) on a content server. As explained inmore detail below, the content server then generates content thatprovides an interactive storefront. The content server also provides theuser a link to the content. To incorporate the interactive storefrontinto an electronic document (e.g., a Web page), the user embeds orplaces the link in the electronic document, When the electronic documentis opened, the content is retrieved based on the link and a completeinteractive storefront is displayed or. rendered to the user. Thestorefront may have a simultaneous listing on one selling web site(e.g., eBay) and other selling web sites. The storefront can be sharedamong an original store and its subsidiary stores, and the originalstore can observe those subsidiary stores.

EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example embodiment of a networked system.Example system 100 includes various computing devices 106, 108, and 102in communication by way of network 104, which may include one or moreLocal Area Networks (LANs) and/or Wide Area Networks (WANs), such as theInternet. As shown in FIG. 1, system 100 includes client computingdevice 102, content server 106, and transaction server 108. Clientcomputing device 102 can host an application configured to access anelectronic document. Examples of such applications include wordprocessors. Web browsers, document viewers, spreadsheets, and otherapplications. In an example embodiment, the content may be stored on thecontent server 106. In another example embodiment, the content may bepulled from a URL. In still another example embodiment, the content maybe uploaded within utile for population.

Client computing device 102 may access various services and functionssupported by content server 106 and transaction server 108. For example,as explained in more detail below, content server 106 may host contentprovider module that is configured to provide or serve content within alocal network. Transaction server 108 may host a transaction applicationthat is configured to implement transactions associated with electroniccommerce. Transactions include, for example, tracking a number ofproducts or services ordered, calculating the tax associated with anorder, calculating shipping amounts for domestic and internationalcustomers, determining options (i.e. different colors and sizes of aproduct) plus incremental cost (add $1 for XXL blue of a shirt),calculating a cumulative price of an order, verifying paymentinformation including bank account and credit card information,generating invoices, placing an order with a vendor, maintaining storefeedbacks from customers, managing store sales, reporting store sales,and other electronic commerce transactions. Transactions may alsoinclude managing inventory of a store. For example, a store has 10shirts of a specific style, and once one of them is sold, transactionserver 108 is able to track that there are nine shirts of this styleleft. Additionally, transactions, in accordance with an exampleembodiment, may include tracking sales associated with interactivestorefronts. In some example embodiments, transactions can includeaffiliate payouts. For example, a user may copy or use an interactivestorefront that is created by another user on his Web page. In anexample of an affiliate store payout, the user who has copied theinteractive storefront receives a percentage of sales purchased throughthe interactive storefront. The creator of the interactive storefrontmakes the sale. It should be appreciated that content server 106 mayalso host the transaction application, in accordance with anotherexample embodiment. In some example embodiments, an affiliate storepayout is automatic through a payment system.

Client computing device 102 and/or content server 106 may accesstransaction server 108 for use in implementing transactions. It shouldbe noted that while system 100 shown in FIG. 1 employs a client-serverarchitecture, the present disclosure is not limited to such anarchitecture, and could equally find application in a distributed, orpeer-to-peer architecture system.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an example embodiment of modulesthat may be included in an apparatus. Content server 106 depicted inFIG. 1 may include an example apparatus 200. In various exampleembodiments, apparatus 200 may be used to implement computer programs,logic, applications, methods, processes, or other software to provide aninteractive storefront. As shown in FIG. 2, apparatus 200 may hostinformation receiver module 202, content generation module 204, contentprovider module 206, storefront tracking module 208, link generationmodule 210, request receiver module 212, and response transmitter module214.

In an example embodiment, apparatus 200 may include information receivermodule 202 that is configured to receive information associated with aproduct to be placed in electronic commerce. Apparatus 200 may alsoinclude content generation module 204 that is configured to generatecontent based on the information associated with the product. Apparatus200 may also include content provider module 206 that is configured toprovide or serve the content associated with the product.

In an example embodiment, apparatus 200 may include storefront trackingmodule 208 that is configured to track and display the distribution ofstorefronts. As discussed in more detail below, the interactivestorefront may be referenced by a link. Storefront tracking module 208may track all the links, which are used to reference the interactivestorefront.

In an example embodiment, apparatus 200 may include link generationmodule 210 that is configured to generate a link to the contentassociated with a product. The link can be, for example, a UniformResource Identifier (URI) or a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). The linkmay be provided to a user so that the user may use the link to locatethe content associated with the product. In an example embodiment, thelink can be embedded in an electronic document or application. Aninteractive storefront therefore can be ported into a variety ofelectronic documents and applications with the use of the link.

Furthermore, apparatus 200 may include request receiver module 212 thatis configured to receive a request for the content associated with theproduct. In an example embodiment, the request may be initiated by alink to the content that is included in or embedded within an electronicdocument. In another example embodiment, the request may be initiated bya link to the content that is included in or embedded within anapplication.

Apparatus 200, in an example embodiment, may include responsetransmitter module 214 that is configured to transmit a response to areceived request after receiving the request, in which the transmittedresponse includes content associated with a product. In an exampleembodiment, the response may include an animation file streamed to aclient computing device 102 from a content server 106. In anotherexample embodiment, the response may include an HTML file transmitted toa client computing device 102 from a content server 106.

It should be appreciated that in other example embodiments, apparatus200 may include fewer, more, or different modules apart from those shownin FIG. 2. For example, in a different example embodiment, contentgeneration module 204 may be integrated with content provider module 206to form one module.

FIG. 3a is a flow diagram of a general overview of a method, inaccordance with an example embodiment, for providing a link to contentassociated with an interactive storefront. In an example embodiment,method 300 a may be implemented by apparatus 200, which is included insuch as content server 106 of FIG. 1. A user may want to place a productin electronic commerce. Products are goods or services produced orprovided by human, mechanical effort, or a natural process. Examples ofproducts include jewelry, automobiles, e-Books, documents, programmingservices, repair services, donations, tipping, audio files, video files,images, and other products. Generally, electronic commerce is thedistributing, buying, selling, marketing, or servicing of a product overelectronic systems, such as the Internet and other computer networks.

As shown in FIG. 3a , information associated with a product is receivedat 302. Information is data associated with a product that is to beplaced in electronic commerce. For example, information can include atleast one image file, a price, a shipping amount, options plusincremental cost, name of item, a description, a video file, an audiofile, an initial bid price, a minimum bid price, and other information.In an example embodiment, a user may provide the information associatedwith the product to a content server. In another example embodiment, theinformation may be hosted on another server and the information providedby the user is a pointer (e.g., a link) to the information. In stillanother example embodiment, the information associated with the productmay be pulled from other stores or storefronts. In still another exampleembodiment, the information associated with the product may be listed inother stores or storefronts. in still another example embodiment, theinformation associated with the product may be uploaded via a productfile.

With the information, content is generated at 304 based on theinformation. Content is data that is configured to provide aninteractive storefront. Content may include, for example, text, codes(e.g., HTML), images, sounds, videos, animations, and other content. Inan example, content is data that may be processed to display aninteractive storefront. Here, for example, content may be computer codesand/or files that are configured to provide a display of graphical userinterface (GUI) associated with an interactive storefront. Such contentmay include, for example, HTML files, ADOBE FLASH files, JAVA files, andother codes and/or files.

An interactive storefront may be a GUI configured to provide access tothe product. In an example, the interactive storefront may include animage of the product and a price of the product. In another example, theinteractive storefront may include a listing of multiple products withprices and descriptions associated. with each of the products. In stillanother example, the interactive storefront can include a descriptionassociated with a service and a suggested donation. The interactivestorefront may be configured to respond to user activities. Useractivities can include clicking on a graphical region with an inputdevice (e.g., a mouse), selecting a graphical region with an inputdevice, inputting a command with the use of an input device (e.g.,keyboard), and other user activities. In an example embodiment, a usermay click on a graphical button region within the interactive storefrontto purchase a product. In another example embodiment, a user may selecta graphical region within the interactive storefront to add a product.In still another example embodiment, a user may select a graphicalregion to browse through various images of the products. In yet stillanother example embodiment, a user may move a cursor over a graphicalregion to trigger a display of a description of a product.

Still referring to FIG. 3a , a link to the content is generated at 306.A link is a string of alphanumeric characters that identify content. Forexample, a link can include an address that identifies the location ofcontent on the Internet. A Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) and aUniform Resource Locator (URL) are examples of links.

After the generation of the link to the content associated with theproduct, the link to the content is provided at 308. The link may beprovided to a user, such that the user may use the link to locate thecontent. An interactive storefront can therefore be generated from thecontent. As explained in more detail below, a user may thereforeincorporate an interactive storefront into an electronic document byusing the link.

FIG. 3b is a flow diagram of a general overview of a method, inaccordance with another example embodiment, for providing a link tocontent associated with an interactive storefront and for tracking thelink. In an example embodiment, method 300 b may be implemented bycontent generation module 204 of FIG. 2, employed in an apparatus 200included in such as content server 106 of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 3b ,at 302, information associated with a product to be placed in electroniccommerce is received. At 304, content based on the received informationis generated. The generated content may provide an interactivestorefront. At 306, a link to the content is generated. At 308, thegenerated lint is provided to the content. In addition, method 300 b ofthe example embodiment as shown in FIG. 3b further includes trackingdistribution of the provided link at 310. For example, storefronttracking module 208 shown in FIG. 2 may track all the links, which areused to reference the interactive storefront.

FIG. 4a is a flow diagram of a general overview of a method, inaccordance with an example embodiment, for providing an interactivestorefront. In an example embodiment, method 400 may be implemented bycontent provider module 206 of FIG. 2, employed in apparatus 200 hostedin, such as content server 106 of FIG. 1.

As discussed above, the link may be used to provide an interactivestorefront. The interactive storefront can be accessed with a link andis therefore portable. For example, a user can provide his interactivestorefront to another user by simply passing a link to the contentassociated with the interactive storefront. A user may thereforeincorporate an interactive storefront into a variety of applications andelectronic documents by using a link. An electronic document includes adocument existing in electronic form that is accessible by computertechnology. For example, an electronic document can be a file that isnot an executable file and includes data for use by a computer program.Examples of an electronic document can include files that are accessibleby and/or associated with applications, such as word processingapplications, document viewers, email applications, presentationapplications, spreadsheet applications, diagramming applications,graphic editors, graphic viewers, enterprise applications, and otherapplications. Therefore, an electronic document may be composed ofalphanumeric texts, symbols, images, videos, sounds, and other data.

It should be noted that an electronic document may have a variety offile formats, and the file formats may be identified by data within theelectronic document and/or by the filename extension. Examples of fileformats that can be associated with an electronic document can includeAdobe Portable Document Format (PDF), Microsoft DOC format, HTML format,Extensible Markup Language (XML) format, Microsoft XLS format, Tag imageFile Format (TIFF), and other file formats that can be associated withthe electronic document. A user may incorporate an interactivestorefront into a variety of electronic documents by embedding the link(e.g., pasting the link) within the electronic documents.

As shown in FIG. 4a , when an electronic document is accessed, a server(e.g., content server 106 of FIG. 1) that stores the content may receivea request for the content at 402. In an example embodiment, the requestmay be initiated by a link to the content that is included in orembedded within an electronic document. In another example embodiment,the request may be initiated by a link to the content that is includedin or embedded within an application. As a result, with the use of alink, an interactive storefront can be ported into a variety ofelectronic documents and applications.

After the request is received, a response to the request may betransmitted at 404. The response includes the content associated withthe product. In an example embodiment, transmission may include contentserver 106 streaming an animation file to client computing device 102.In another example embodiment, transmission may include content server106 transmitting an HTML file to client computing device 102.

FIG. 4b is a block diagram of an example embodiment that may be used toprovide an interactive storefront. In the example embodiment, clientcomputing device 102 is connected with content server 106 via network(e.g., Internet) 104. Client computing device 102 may send request 412to content server 106 to request for content that is configured toprovide an interactive storefront. In an example embodiment, a user, bythe use of client computing device 102, may send request 412 to contentserver 106 by entering a URL of the content in the client computingdevice. In another example embodiment, a user, by the use of clientcomputing device 102, may send request 412 to content server 106 byclicking the link to the content. The link to the content may be, forexample, included in or embedded within an electronic document orapplication. After receiving request 412 from client computing device102, content server 106 may transmit response 414 to request 412 vianetwork 104. Response 414 to request 412 includes content that isconfigured to provide an interactive storefront.

Although a client-server architecture is used in the example embodimentshown in FIG. 4b , it should be appreciated that other architectures,like a distributed architecture or peer-to-peer architecture, can alsobe used for receiving request 412 and for transmitting response 414.

FIG. 5a is a diagram of a GUI 500 a, in accordance with an exampleembodiment, for providing information associated with contents retrievedfrom a search. FIG. 5a illustrates an example of GUI 500 a that may bedisplayed in a Web browser. GUI 500 a, for example, may be a Web page.In the example embodiment of FIG. 5a , a link to content is embeddedwithin the Web page. As a result, when the Web page is loaded, the linkinitiates a request for content from a content server, e.g., contentserver 106 of FIG. 1. In response to the request, content server 106transmits a response that includes the content associated with theproduct.

Returning to FIG. 5a , GUI 500 a is comprised of region 502. Region 502is configured to provide rendering of the received content. As discussedabove, the content is configured to provide an interactive storefront.In the example embodiment of FIG. 5 a, the interactive storefrontprovides the GUI and interface for a user to complete an electroniccommerce transaction. For example, the user can purchase a product byinterfacing with region 502. In an example embodiment, a user is notredirected to another Web page to make electronic commerce transactions.As a result, the user can complete the electronic commerce transactionby using, for example, a single Web page.

In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 5a , the interactive storefrontincludes an image of the product being sold and the price associatedwith the product. Region 502 includes image 503 of a product, slideshowbutton 508, “buy-now” button 506, “copy-widget” button 516,“create-widget” button 518, and price 505 associated with the product.Region 502 of FIG. 5a displays only one image of a product, but itshould be appreciated that region 502 can be configured to display aseries of images associated with one or more products. An example ofsuch a display is a slideshow of various images. A user may select orclick on slideshow button 508 to cycle through images 503. In an exampleembodiment, the storefront provides customers with more options on thelisted products. For example, customers may be authorized to chooseproducts with different sizes, and there are slideshows available tohelp customers choose among the products with different sizes. If theuser wants to buy the product shown by image 503, the user can click on“buy-now” button 506 to make the purchase immediately. In response,region 502 may, for example, display a different interactive storefrontthat shows a confirmation of the product purchased.

Furthermore, a user may select or click on “copy-widget” button 516 tocopy the interactive storefront, In response, a link to the interactivestorefront may be provided. The user can therefore paste the link to,for example, an electronic document or application. In addition, tocreate an interactive storefront, a user may select or click on“create-widget” button 518, which may redirect the user to, for example,a Web page provided by a content server for to create interactivestorefronts. The storefront can be edited at an time.

FIG. 5b is a diagram of a GUI 500 b, in accordance with another exampleembodiment, for providing information associated with contents retrievedfrom a search. As shown in FIG. 5b , in region 504 of GUI 500 b, inaddition to image 503 of the product, slideshow button 508, price 505 ofthe product, “buy-now” button 506, “copy-widget” button, and“create-widget” button, region 504 also includes “add-to-cart” button510 and “view-cart” button 512. To place or add a product to a shoppingcart of products, a user may click on “add-to-cart” button 510. To viewthe products included in a shopping cart, a user may click on“view-cart” button 512.

It should be appreciated that GUIs 500 a or 500 b may display furtherinformation, e.g., notification of the store closed for vacation,customers' feedback for purchases, international and domestic shipping.In some example embodiments, GUIs 500 a or 500 b may also display salesand order information on the storefront only for the store owners.

It should be appreciated that any number of suitable layouts can bedesignated for region and button layouts illustrated above in FIGS. 5aand 5b does not represent all possible layout options available. Thedisplayable appearance of the regions and buttons can be defined by avariety of geometric shapes (e.g., rectangle, square, circle, triangle,etc.), alphanumeric characters (e.g., A, v, t, Q, 1, 9, 10, etc.),symbols (e.g., $, *, @, Ω, ∞, etc.), shading, pattern (e.g. solid,hatch, stripes, dots, etc.), and color. Furthermore, for example, “buynow” button 506, or other regions, may be omitted or dynamicallyassigned. It should also be appreciated that the regions can be fixed orcustomizable. In addition, the computing devices may have a fixed set oflayouts, utilize a defined protocol or language to define a layout, oran external structure can be reported to the computing device thatdefines the layout. Finally, clicking or selecting on a region or buttonof GUI as discussed above may trigger code to cause the functionalitydescribed herein.

FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic representation of an example embodiment of amachine in the example form of a computer system within which a set ofinstructions, for causing the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein, may be executed. In alternative exampleembodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device or may beconnected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient machine in a server-client network environment, or as a peermachine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. Themachine may be a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box(STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a webappliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable ofexecuting a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specifyactions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only a singlemachine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken toinclude any collection of machines that individually or jointly executea set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more ofthe methodologies discussed herein.

Example computer system 600 includes processor 602 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU) or both), mainmemory 604 and static memory 606, which communicate with each other viabus 608. Computer system 600 may further include video display unit 610(e.g., a plasma display, a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode raytube (CRT)). Computer system 600 also includes alphanumeric input device612 (e.g., a keyboard), user interface (UI) navigation device 614 (e.g.,a mouse), disk drive unit 616, signal generation device 618 (e.g., aspeaker) and network interface device 620.

Disk drive unit 616 includes machine-readable medium 622 on which isstored one or more sets of instructions and data structures (e.g.,software 624) embodying or utilized by any one or more of themethodologies or functions described herein. Software 624 may alsoreside, completely or at least partially, within main memory 604 and/orwithin processor 602 during execution thereof by computer system 600,main memory 604, and processor 602 also constituting machine-readablemedia.

Software 624 may further be transmitted or received over network 626 vianetwork interface device 620 utilizing any one of a number of well-knowntransfer protocols (e.g., HTTP).

While machine-readable medium 622 is shown in an example embodiment tobe a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should be takento include single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized ordistributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that storethe one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readable medium”shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing,encoding, or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machineand that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present application, or that is capable of storing,encoding, or carrying data structures utilized by or associated withsuch a set of instructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shallaccordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-statememories, optical and magnetic media, and carrier wave signals.

Although an example embodiment has been described with reference tospecific example embodiments, it will be evident that variousmodifications and changes may be made to these example embodimentswithout departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than allfeatures of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims arehereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separate embodiment.

1. A system comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled to theprocessor, the memory including instructions which, when executed by theprocessor, cause the system to: receive information associated with aproduct generate an interactive storefront user interface based on theinformation, the interactive storefront application user interfaceproviding functionality for purchasing the product from a merchant fromwithin an electronic document or application in which a link to theinteractive storefront user interface is embedded; store the interactivestorefront user interface on a first server; generate a first link tothe interactive storefront user interface; cause the first link to beembedded in an electronic document on a server other than the firstserver, such that when the electronic document is rendered on a userdevice, the first link is followed and the interactive storefront userinterface is incorporated within the electronic document; generate asecond link to the interactive storefront user interface; and cause thesecond link to be embedded in an application on a server other than thefirst server, such that when the application is executed on the userdevice, the second link is followed and the interactive storefront userinterface is rendered on the user device.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the electronic document comprises a website.
 3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the interactive storefront user interface comprises aHypertext Markup Language (HTML) file.
 4. The system of claim 1, whereinthe application comprises an electronic commerce application.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the first and second links to the interactivestorefront application each comprise a Uniform Resource Locators (URL).6. The system of claim 1, further comprising instructions which, whenexecuted by the processor, cause the system to: receive at least onerequest for the interactive storefront user interface; generate at leastone third link to the interactive storefront user interface; andtransmit a response to the at least one request, the response includingthe at least one third link.
 7. The system of claim 6, furthercomprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause thesystem to track distribution of the at least one third link.
 8. A methodcomprising: receiving information associated with a product; generatingan interactive storefront user interface based on the information, theinteractive storefront user interface providing functionality forpurchasing the product from a merchant from within an electronicdocument or application in which a link to the interactive storefrontuser interface is embedded; storing the interactive storefront userinterface on a first server; generating a first link to the interactivestorefront user interface; causing the first link to be embedded in anelectronic document on a server other than the first server, such thatwhen the electronic document is rendered on a user device, the firstlink is followed and the interactive storefront user interface isincorporated within the electronic document; generating a second link tothe interactive storefront user interface; and causing the second linkto be embedded in an application on a server other than the firstserver, such that when the application is executed on the user device,the second link is followed and the interactive storefront userinterface is rendered on the user device.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein the electronic document comprises a website.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, wherein the interactive storefront user interface comprises aHypertext Markup Language (HTML) file.
 11. The method of claim 8,wherein the application comprises an electronic commerce application.12. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second links to theinteractive storefront application each comprise a Uniform ResourceLocators (URL).
 13. The method of claim 8, further comprising: receivingat least one request for the interactive storefront user interface;generating at least one third link to the interactive storefront userinterface; and transmitting a response to the at least one request, theresponse including the at least one third link.
 14. The method of claim13, further comprising tracking distribution of the at least one thirdlink.
 15. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprisinginstructions, which when implemented by one or more processors of amachine, cause the machine to perform the following operations:receiving information associated with a product; generating aninteractive storefront user interface based on the information, theinteractive storefront user interface providing functionality forpurchasing the product from a merchant from within an electronicdocument or application in which a link to the interactive storefrontuser interface is embedded; storing the interactive storefront userinterface on a first server; generating a first link to the interactivestorefront user interface; causing the first link to be embedded in anelectronic document on a server other than the first server, such thatwhen the electronic document is rendered on a user device, the firstlink is followed and the interactive storefront user interface isincorporated within the electronic document; generating a second link tothe interactive storefront user interface; and causing the second linkto be embedded in an application on a server other than the firstserver, such that when the application is executed on the user device,the second link is followed and the interactive storefront userinterface is rendered on the user device.
 16. The machine-readablestorage medium of claim 15, wherein the electronic document comprises awebsite and the interactive storefront user interface comprises aHypertext Markup Language (HTML) file.
 17. The machine-readable storagemedium of claim 15, wherein the application comprises an electroniccommerce application.
 18. The machine-readable storage medium of claim15, wherein the first and second links to the interactive storefrontapplication each comprise a Uniform Resource Locators (URL).
 19. Themachine-readable storage medium of claim 15, the operations furthercomprising: receiving at least one request for the interactivestorefront user interface; generating at least one third link to theinteractive storefront user interface; and transmitting a response tothe at least one request, the response including the at least one thirdlink.
 20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, theoperations further comprising tracking distribution of the at least onethird link.